Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has thrown his weight behind independent candidate in the Chini by-election, Datuk Tengku Zainul Hisham Hussin.
In a video message addressing Chini voters today, Dr Mahathir said Tengku Zainul is the best candidate in the three-way contest.
“Bersatu did not field a candidate, but I support this candidate, and I hope voters in Chini too will vote to give him victory,” he said.
Tengku Zainul was sacked by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) for contesting the Chini by-election as an independent candidate.
His sacking was announced on June 20 by the party’s organising secretary Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya, indicating an automatic termination due to him contesting without the party’s consent.
In the video, Dr Mahathir also urged Chini voters to not lend their support to any candidate just because they are offered a bribe.
“If you love Chini and the country, don’t vote for a candidate simply because of bribes…otherwise, you could lose your ground and this could result in problems,” he said.
Tengku Zainul, who previously held the post of Pekan Bersatu deputy division chief, is going up against BN’s Mohd Sharim Md Zain and independent candidate Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli.
The by-election is being held following the death of incumbent Abu Bakar Harun from Umno on May 6 after a heart attack.
In the last general election, Bakar defeated PAS’ Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim and PKR’s Mohamad Razali Ithnain by a 4,622-vote majority.